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"In the various crises that have occurred in the history of the church, men have come to the front who have manifested a holy recklessness that astonished their fellows. When Luther nailed his theses to the door of the cathedral at Wittenburg,135 cautious men were astonished at his audacity. When John Wesley ignored all church restrictions136 and religious propriety and preached in the fields and byways, men declared his reputation was ruined. So it has been in all ages. When the religious condition of the times called for men who were willing to sacrifice all for Christ, the demand created the supply, and there have always been found a few who have been willing to be regarded reckless for the Lord. An utter recklessness concerning men's opinions and other consequences is the only attitude137 that can meet the exigencies of the present times."138
 There is coming a time and perhaps it is already here where many in the body of Christ in countries with little or no persecution will have to take a stand for truth in these end times. There will be such a strong apostasy139 that will overtake many churches, denominations and groups that the true body of Christ will be called out by God to meet together under the Headship of Jesus Christ. These gatherings will be led by servant leaders who know the true Shepherd140 and will lead the flock of God into holiness and purity.141 There could be a time coming soon when even the weakest, simple believer in Jesus Christ will have to take a courageous stand for truth and God's Word. Are you willing to stand amongst all those in Hebrews 11 that stood for faith and righteousness? Are you willing to stand with the millions of Martyrs before the throne of God?

(Principles Book) 12 Principle 8 Taking A Stand for the Testimonty of the Church

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All Christian service is based on the finished work of Christ.176 The early Apostles did not go around preaching a Gospel of works177 or a message of believers needing to do so much178 to enter heaven but rather all godly living179 was out of appreciation of the mercy of God. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."180
 They had the Good News message of the resurrection of Christ and the hope of trusting in Him for eternal life. This message of God's love is open to all humanity181 and is not to be a message of condemnation.182 The finished work of Christ is something that was preached by the Apostles through everything they did. When they partook of the Lord's Supper it celebrated the resurrection and sacrifice of Christ. When they baptized individuals it spoke of the work of Christ in redeeming us from death to life. All doctrines were centered in the Good News of our redemption through the cross of Christ Jesus. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."183
 God has made us who were sinners to become saints not just in word but in actual experience. Such is our standing now that we become holy because of the blood of Christ and His redeeming work. Our heart is made new as we grow into His likeness.184 Yet from this vantage point of being a redeemed saint of God we should never look down on or despise others who are still in the filth of sin being outside of Christ, for it is from hence we came!185 Thus the true work of Christ in us allows us to love all others because God in Christ loves all: "Who gave Himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time."186

(Principles Book) 14 Principle 10 Preaching the Good News

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Though there is leadership in the Book of Acts, the examples we find are of those who serve the body of Christ. A gathering of believers is still an Assembly even if there is no defined servant leader. As the fellowship grows in the Lord, the Spirit will gift certain men as shepherds.199 The 12 Apostles were servants to widows giving them bread daily for a season,200 until they realized they needed to fully devote themselves to studying the Scriptures and giving themselves to prayer.201 They delegated the function of physically serving the widows but expanded their service to the congregation to give them spiritual food. Though a shepherd in the body of Christ has concerns to watch over the Flock,202 in the Word and prayer,203 and teaching the body, he must do all in the spirit of servanthood to help others.
 To serve others is the example our Lord Jesus gave us when He who was the teacher and rabbi took the form of a servant204 and washed the feet of His disciples.205 When a leader desires honor for his own self; when he wants esteem from men, when he exercises control for gain and power, he is not a leader in the body of Christ. Paul didn't even exercise authority over Apollos to come to Corinth even though Paul "greatly desired him to come." Paul allowed the Holy Spirit to guide Apollos in his personal walk when he said, "He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity."206 Overseers also are not to desire preeminence.207 In fact, where there are such desires of greatness Jesus gives clear teachings on not taking titles208 and not lording over others in the body of Christ.209 Concluding with this powerful statement for those who would be leaders in His kingdom: "The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."210

(Principles Book) 15 Principle 11 Leading Is Serving In Humility

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The Headship of Jesus Christ was not just a doctrine or an idea to the early Apostles but rather a present reality to them. The Lord was the active Head of the Church. They realized it was His Church and everything was done in His Name for Him and through Him.224 This apostolic dependency on the person of Jesus Christ allowed the Lord to be in control of each Assembly. "God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be Head over everything for the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way."225
 In the life of the Church and in the function of the members of the body it is important to keep our Lord as Head. He should be the center of our thoughts, actions, reactions and endeavors so that all the body looks to the Head for direction and thus unity ensues. He should be spoken of much for all things are from Him and relate to Him.226 He is the Head of the Church.227 Paul the apostle stated: "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."228

(Principles Book) 16 Principle 12 Jesus Christ The Head of the Church

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Many evangelicals in our day simply believe that to have someone confess Christ with their lips is fulfilling the great commission.257 There are great campaigns to simply have people say a quick prayer and make confession. Though salvation begins with this confession that Jesus Christ is Lord258 yet it is not enough for someone to only be converted, for each convert should be a disciple who follows the Lord daily. "Then He said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.'"259
 Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven."260 Therefore, true conversion results in Christians who live for Jesus Christ every hour of the day. These are the true Christians who are love-slaves261 of Jesus Christ and who know they have been bought with a great price.262 Therefore, serving and pleasing God263 is their aim everyday.

(Principles Book) 18 Principle 14 Making Disciples Not Just Converts

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We must always in our walks with Jesus Christ keep our eyes on the Lord and seek to please Him alone. The fact is that we belong to Jesus Christ. He has redeemed us with His precious blood and therefore we are not our own.272 This is a liberating truth if we can realize that all we do is in the clear view of God and therefore seek His approval alone. The early Church walked in the fear of the Lord273 and did not seek the accolades and esteem of men. "Then the Church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers."274
 The early Church sought to please God rather than men,275 for as our Lord had said: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."276 The fear of man is a snare277 but the fear of God is freedom to do His will.278
 The religious men of our day exercise control and apply rules of men thereby bringing to naught anything born of the Spirit of God. Such men must be resisted in the fear of God.279 The early Apostles learned through the example of our Lord not to fear men even if it would get them killed. We must realize that when we fear men it hinders the work of God;280 may God keep us clear from this hindrance and allow us to have the fruitfulness of the early Church. May God keep us low always before Him as we seek to do His will,281 not caring about the opinions of men.

(Principles Book) 19 Principle 15 Not Pleasing Men But God Alone

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Prayer is not just one of the functions added to an Assembly meeting, it needs to be the life and atmosphere of a New Covenant gathering under the Headship of Christ. The Church was birthed in prayer. It was sustained in prayer. When they were persecuted they called a prayer meeting.285 Prayer was the beginning of the great commission. The disciples prayed for a successor after Judas died.286 Peter prayed for the lame man at the temple gate.287 Stephen prayed for his persecutors when he was being martyred.288 Prayer was the main activity of the Church. Ananias was praying when God directed him to anoint one of the early key leaders of the Church.289 Peter the Apostle was praying when God directed him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles.290 Paul prayed for direction many times in his missionary journeys. The Apostle Peter prayed for the resurrection of Tabitha from the dead.291 Prayer was the engine of the early Church that helped it grow and reach the world with the Good News. "The Lord Jesus Christ did not begin his ministry without prayer. We see this in Luke 3:21. This is the first thing we must learn as Gospel vessels."292

(Principles Book) 20 Principle 16 The Church Was Birthed In Prayer

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Christianity was birthed in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit309 and will only continue as we have this empowering from above. When we look at Church history the only truly significant stories of men that influenced and built the kingdom of God were men who were filled with the Holy Spirit. This anointing is something that not only signifies leadership in the Church but also usability before God for His work.
 Christianity in this way is quite simple, it is a work of the Spirit of God. This simplicity can offend men but God clearly states in 1 Corinthians 1 that He uses the weak, the unwise, the unlearned and the despised of this world.310 It happened when God chose 12 disciples. Two wanted to send fire from heaven down on towns,311 three could not stay awake during a prayer meeting,312 one was a traitor and thief,313 and one betrayed Christ denying that he even knew the Lord.314 They argued over who would be the greatest and all of them fled away when hard times came.315 Yet with this group of weak, unlearned simple men God was building His Church against which the gates of hell will not prevail.316 This can give us great consolation and hope to be usable in the work of the Lord for He is looking for those who are not self-seeking but rather are humble, weak and needy. They are the ones that are calling out to God for His Spirit because they literally need Him in every situation.

(Principles Book) 21 Principle 17 The Spirit Is Essential

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Though God is always working in different ways and with different means, it is still only by the Spirit of God that the Church will grow. Over the past 50 years particularly originating in Western countries there have been such excesses and abuses of what is considered Spirit-filled Christianity that many true believers have been repulsed completely from even seeking the Lord for the true filling of the Spirit. This is not only a tragedy but one of Satan's tactics323 to hinder the growth of the true Church of Jesus Christ. The genuine believer should never feel scared to call out to God for fresh infusions of the Spirit of God for service324 and to foster a dependence on the Holy Spirit of God daily in his life.
 We have to remember that Satan is the father of lies. He is a murderer from the beginning and dwells in falsehood.325 He never wants the glory to go to Jesus Christ but rather twists the truth and deceives those in the Lord's work to take glory to themselves.326
 He is also the master counterfeiter who has been deceiving God's people since the beginning. He spoke to Eve and deceived her by twisting the truth of God saying: "Has God indeed said?"327 Such twisting of the truth is his normal activity.
 Since the earliest days of the Apostles, even with our Lord Himself there were deceivers and false brethren present. Those who secretly come into God's flock for personal gain and to infiltrate the liberty328 of the believers. Betrayers,329 deceivers,330 false brethren,331 false prophets,332 and those desiring preeminence among the saints. We must have a strong trust in the Lord to see these individuals purged away from the flock of God as believers meet in gatherings under the Headship of Jesus Christ.

(Principles Book) 22 Principle 18 The Satanic Counterfeit

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A godly writer over 200 years ago lamented the lack of the actual presence of God355 in Christian Assemblies with these words: "By this process the Church steadily ceased to be a testimony to the existence, presence, and working of the living and true God. Less and less often did unbelievers coming into the Assembly, and beholding in the spirit and unity and conscience-searching power of the worship, the evidences of His presence and control, exclaim: 'God is among you indeed.'356 God was worshipped, but as absent; and presently the beauteous divine simplicity of the first days had been materialized into the lifeless magnificence of Roman ritual."357
 Those first days referred to are the simple and glorious days of the Acts of the Apostles which can be better titled the Acts of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Christ in the meeting of believers together358 is to be deferred to and depended upon. For any believer to share or speak anything of spiritual worth requires the anointing359 and present working of the Spirit.360

(Principles Book) 23 Principle 19 Dependence on the Spirit of Jesus

Gospel Fellowships Network of house churches gathering as Believers Under the Headship of Jesus Christ. #housechurches #homechurch

With over 30,000 registered denominations, the Church in the West is fractured and split into so many groups, in which God calls carnality (1 Corinthians 3:1-5). We are in need for a movement of brothers and sisters coming together to meet under Christ’s Lordship and to simply obey Christ’s call to discipleship and evangelisation of the world. We don’t need more church buildings; we need the kind of true fellowship of the Body of Christ as in the Early Church (Acts 2:42-47). Not denominational churches with men in charge but rather where Jesus Christ is the Head (Colossians 1:18).

Are you looking for like-minded fellowship in your area? Do you want to be fruiful in your walk with Jesus Christ and lead others to become disciples? We invite you to prayerfully consider joining with this movement. It does not necessary mean you need to leave the Church you attend but you would commit to meet during the week with other like-minded believers from all different denominational backgrounds. Gospel Fellowships are fellowships of like-minded believers in Jesus Christ meeting together in autonomous groups of 2-3 or more on a weekly basis under the Headship of Jesus Christ.

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